The RNLA is pleased to announce that the2019 Ed Meese Award, named after the 65th United States Attorney General, will be given to Senator Lindsey Graham in recognition of his career as an individual who has upheld the rule of law in the face of adverse political challenges.

Today, President Trump sent to the Senate a list of executive branch nominations, which included many who were nominated during the last Congress, but either never had a hearing or were never voted on. Those nominated include: former RNLA Chair John Ryder, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority; former RNLA Chair Kimberly Reed, to be President of the Export-Import Bank of the United States; RNLA member James "Trey" Trainor, to be a Member of the Federal Election Commission; and RNLA member Dennis Kirk, to be Chairman of the Merit Systems Protection Board.

Today was the testimony of expert panelists regarding the confirmation of the Honorable William Barr to become Attorney General of the United States. Republican witnesses offered testimony explaining why Mr. Barr is the right fit at the U.S. Department of Justice. Meanwhile, the Democratic witnesses failed to present any real concerns about Mr. Barr or his past tenure as Attorney General in the early 1990s but rather focused on other, systemic issues they perceive in the laws and justice system. Some of most noteworthy testimony for Republican witnesses included:

Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee began its public consideration of William Barr, President Trump’s nominee for attorney general. Senate Judiciary Democrats tried and failed to trip up Mr. Barr, who was professional, calm, and lawyerly throughout the hearing. He frequently declared that he would be an independent attorney general committed to the rule of law and the Constitution, as he was when he served as President George H.W. Bush's attorney general. The RNLA live-tweeted the hearing.

Here's a look back at what happened the last time the Senate considered him for the same job.

In 1991, then-Senate Judiciary Chairman and potential 2020 Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden praised William Barr, President Trump's nominee to be attorney general. After the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously voted in favor of him and shortly before the Senate unanimously confirmed him by voice vote to be attorney general under President George H.W. Bush, Chairman Biden said:

Senate Judiciary Democrats are once again facing criticism for their treatment of a judicial nominee. However this time it comes from an unexpected source, the Democratic Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard from Hawaii. She wrote:

While I oppose the nomination of Brian Buescher to the U.S. District Court in Nebraska, I stand strongly against those who are fomenting religious bigotry, citing as disqualifiers Buescher’s Catholicism and his affiliation with the Knights of Columbus. If Buescher is “unqualified” because of his Catholicism and affiliation with the Knights of Columbus, then President John F. Kennedy, and the 'liberal lion of the Senate' Ted Kennedy would have been “unqualified” for the same reasons.

Article 6 of the U.S. Constitution clearly states that there "shall be no religious test" for any seeking to serve in public office.No American should be told that his or her public service is unwelcome because “the dogma lives loudly within you” as Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said to Amy Coney Barrett during her confirmation hearings in 2017 to serve as U.S. Circuit Court judge in the 7th Circuit.

Last night, President Trump addressed the nation on the crisis at the southern border by outlining the violence, harm, and security threats that are occurring, and praising the border agents who are risking their lives everyday to keep America safe. As evident by Speaker Pelosi’s and Minority Leader Schumer’s response, the Democrats are continuing to let partisan politics control these issues and are failing to acknowledge the humanitarian and national security crisis that exists, and are refusing to provide support to border patrol agents who protect our nation. The Democrats are the sole cause for the partial government shutdown and are ensuring that there are a lack of resources at the southern border.

The partial government shutdown is on its 17th day, which started on Saturday, December 22nd to partially shutdown a quarter of the federal government, which included nine government agencies: the Departments of Homeland Security, Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, Interior, State, Transportation, Treasury, and Housing and Urban Development. What the media and Democrats are refusing to reference is the fact that three-fourths of the government is fully funded through fiscal year 2019, ending on September 30, 2019.

When the 116th Congress started last Thursday, all pending nominations from the 115th Congress were sent back to the White House and the nominees will need to be renominated to be considered for confirmation by the new Senate. The hundreds of nominations sent back to the White House included a record number of judicial nominees, due to Democrats' delay and obstruction. Tom Jipping of the Heritage Foundation described the problem and the Democrats' tactics: